You know, maybe I am a little off here, but we shouldn't have to do crazy things to our machines so they work. Don't they run them thru every imaginable thing that could happen before they put them out on the market??? Seriously, if they can't troubleshoot before they turn them loose on an unsuspecting public, at least enclose a handbook that says "this machine will do------(fill in the blank) and we don't know why. You're on your own."
ps. threaten to report those rotten repair men to the BBB in your state and they will make the wrong right-they hate to be on the bad list and the BBB will settle the complaint for you.